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Green Light: Maine Outlasts Rochester in Overtime
Bismarck and Shreveport also advanced to the Division Finals (Photos Credit: Cover: Cody Roy, Top: Hope Magelky)
Rochester 1 @ Maine 2 (East Division Semifinals, Maine Wins Series 3-2): Zion Green was the hero as he scored his second goal of the night with just 1:34 left in overtime as the Maine Nordiques edged the Rochester Jr. Americans 2-1 in Game 5 of the East Division Semifinals. The first goal of the game came just moments into the second period as Massimo Gentile got the Jr. Americans on the board for the first time in the series. They took that lead into the third period but it was Green who netted his first of the evening just two minutes in. The game would remain 1-1 as both goaltenders kept the puck out of their respective nets and we would need overtime. Both teams had multiple chances in extra period but it was a 2-on-1 for the Nordiques that saw Nils Forselius feed Green who buried the game winner. Maine advances to the East Division Finals for the second consecutive year and third time in four seasons. The loss sees the inaugural season for Rochester come to an end. Both goaltenders were sensational for their clubs as Carter Richardson got the win, making 35 saves on 36 shots. Danick Leroux was dealt the loss as he finished the evening with 36 saves on 38 Maine shots.
Aberdeen 1 @ Bismarck (Central Division Semifinals, Bismarck Wins Series 3-2): Kade Kohanski led the way with a goal and an assist as the Bismarck Bobcats eliminated the Aberdeen Wings by winning Game 5 of the Central Division Semifinals by a score of 4-1. Mathieu Bourgault got the scoring started six minutes into the action and Kohanski’s goal increased the lead to two heading into the first intermission. After a scoreless middle frame, Tommy Cronin got a goal late in the third for more insurance before Matthew Wisener broke the shutout Aberdeen. Tamas Toth added an empty net goal in the final minute to seal the win for the Bobcats. They will advance to play Minot in the Central Division Finals, its their first appearance in a division final since 2022. Klayton Knapp was nearly perfect in goal as he stopped 29 shots. Adam Dybal was stuck with the loss in goal as he made 25 saves for Aberdeen.
El Paso 0 @ Shreveport 2 (South Division Semifinals, Shreveport Wins Series 3-2): Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau stopped all 22 shots he faced as the Shreveport Mudbugs will advance to the South Division Finals after a 2-0 blanking of the El Paso Rhinos. No one was able to get on the scoresheet in the first period but it was Kyan Haldenby who finally broke the ice in the second period with his third goal of the playoffs. Then in the opening minute of the third, it was Colin Vassallo who netted his third goal of the postseason to give Shreveport some insurance. Seguin-Lescarbeau held strong the rest of the third period and made sure the Rhinos wouldn’t make it close as he stopped all eight shots he saw over the final 20 minutes. Michael Manzi played excellent in the loss as he stopped 31 of 33 attempts. Shreveport finds themselves in the division finals going up against their biggest rival, the Lone Star Brahmas.
